Top things to consider when using spare parts

September 27, 2016

Having your vehicle break down unexpectedly can be a little bit of a nightmare.

When you take it to the mechanic, and they tell you a replacement part or two is needed, things can go from bad to worse. Especially if you’re not a car enthusiast, and familiar with the ins and outs of this business. That’s why we’ve put together this guide for sourcing replacement parts for your vehicle. From what parts need to be bought brand new and the risks of second-hand parts, to what you need to look for in a spare parts dealer, and the questions you should be asking. These are the top things to consider when sourcing spare auto parts.

What are the ins and outs?

When shopping for replacement auto parts you’ll need to know a few things about your vehicle and the part you need. You need to know the make, model and year of your car, the VIN number, and also the part number if you have it. When talking to Brookvale Spares or another parts dealer, if you don’t know this information, one of our friendly team will be able to help you find these details, to make the parts search easier.

Once we have this information, one of the Brookvale Spares team will be able to source the exact part that you need. If we don’t already have one in our inventory, we scour insurance company auctions, private sales and car dealerships to find the part you need. When we’ve located what you’re after, one of our qualified mechanics will clean, recondition and test the part before installing it into your vehicle for you. We never hand your vehicle back until we are confident the replacement part has integrated with the engine correctly, and the vehicle is safe to drive. If you’re not located in Sydney, we’ll deliver the part to you, as quickly as possible, and at the most competitive rate in the industry.

When to get used vs. new parts?

You’d happily purchase some furniture second hand, but not others. Some auto parts are exactly the same; some should always be replaced with new parts. While all parts in your vehicle will experience wear and tear over time, there are some parts that wear much faster than others, and can never be used as replacement parts for another vehicle for safety reasons. These parts are usually related to the safety of the vehicle, and include seat belts, air bags, some brake parts and electronic sensors that monitor system problems. Some of these parts can be purchased second hand, but you should always check with the dealer if the part comes with a warranty and background information. At Brookvale Spares, one of our qualified mechanics will be able to help you with this, and tell you about our Warranty Guarantee.

What are the benefits and risks?

We all know that cars can be expensive. When your vehicle breaks down it can burn a big hole in your pocket. That’s the first reason to source used auto parts over new ones. By sourcing your spare parts through Brookvale Spares, we always ensure we’re providing the best quality, reliable parts, but being second hand we can offer them at a fraction of the cost of new parts. This can save you a huge amount of money. Secondly, due to the large amount of stock we move daily, we often have parts in stock, meaning we can get your replacement part to you in a day or two, depending on your location. When ordering parts new, you often need to wait weeks for the parts to be shipped in from overseas; so we can save you time, and money. Finally, using second hand over new parts is environmentally friendly. Up to 82% of a vehicle can be recycled for spare parts, which prevents that vehicle from ending up in landfill.

When sourcing auto parts second hand, car owners are often worried about how long the parts will last, and how reliable they really are. This is why at Brookvale Spares all of our parts come with a minimum 3 month, unlimited kilometre warranty guarantee. Of course, we expect all of our parts to last much longer than that, and you can purchase 6, 12 and 24 month extended warranties too.

Where can spare parts be found?

The internet is, for obvious reasons the best place to start your search for spare parts. Most spare parts can be found online, on our eBay store, which is updated daily with over 30,000 spare parts. If you’re looking for a one-off or hard-to-find part, or simply unsure of what you need, give us a call, one of our experienced mechanics will be able to find the part you need in no time. Be aware that many private sellers also list used parts online for sale, but often don’t have the same rigorous testing and benchmarking processes as a dealer, like Brookvale Spares does.

We’re located in Sydney, but that doesn’t mean that if you’re on the other side of the country we can’t get the part you need. We deliver parts all over Australia, and due to the large number of parts we ship off daily, we have the lowest delivery costs in the industry.

What to look for in a spare parts dealer?

When sourcing a replacement part for your vehicle it pays to do your homework. Unfortunately, not all dealers or private sellers are reliable, and buying second hand, you can’t always be sure about the history of the vehicle or the part. At Brookvale Spares, we have built our business over 30 years, building a reputation of trust and reliability. Every part we source is subjected to a rigorous testing process, and if it doesn’t meet our high standards, we don’t sell it to you.

When looking for a spare parts dealer always enquire about where and how they source their parts. What cleaning and testing processes are the parts subjected to? And do they come with a guarantee? At Brookvale Spares we source our parts from trusted insurance company auctions, as well as private sales and car dealers; but all of our parts are subjected to the same strict testing processes before sale. It’s also worth asking if the dealer can install the part for you, or deliver it to your local mechanic to do the work. At Brookvale Spares, our qualified mechanics install and test the part to ensure it’s integrating properly with your car engine before handing your keys back.

So if you’re in need of a spare part for your car or truck, do your research, know exactly what part you need, and ensure everything you purchase has a guarantee. Get in touch with Brookvale Spares for more expert advice or to find the part you need.

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